What you lose when you don’t use games at events?

June 28, 2017 - 6 minutes read

Some event professionals start to use gamification tech without too much reasoning, just because there is a pressure in the form of the clients` demands. Some on the other hand, oppose tech and games without looking into it. Quoting classics, the truth is out there….. There are a couple of things you are missing out when you don’t incorporate games into the event program.When you don`t use games at events, you miss out…

Competitive edge . Marshmallow towers, wine tasting, go carts, high rope courses, escape rooms, paint ball, team exercises- all fun. But it is almost the same experience and even emotion, no matter what an event provider`s corporate client picks. You probably have to put a lot of effort into differentiating and positioning yourself. But the game`s category enables you to create concepts hard for your competitors to replicate. This makes avoiding copycats or being yourself one easier .

Exclusive product possibility. Some event profs see games as a cheap alternative to other activities. This is largely a myth that relies on imagining basic game concepts. Thought through, games take a fair amount of input and creativity providing delightful outcomes for attendees. Unique games can be a selling point and an activity you charge the same price or even more.

Including participants of all physical level and knowledge. Many activities require being physically fit, smart, quick, brave etc. There are certain games where that type of differences are smoothed out and team roles start to affect the outcome. Games are an excellent option when you have a diverse crowd to engage.

Innovation and new ideas. This becomes especially obvious when you use a gamification tech, app or a platform. The tool itself encourages you to play around with possibilities and prove outcomes you couldn’t imagine. Who knows, you might even end up in a like-minded event crowd who supports your business goals.

Smoother low season. In Scandinavia the winter is almost always coming. This means, the low season for events is long and full of horrors. In other countries there are seasons hot as hell and rainy as in Amazonas. Games ease the pain of the low season. You can entertain clients with little props and a lot of content. Besides, games can take place indoors. With beacons, clues and QR you can even make people move around in buildings.

Tech savviness. Like in school, we learn to learn using games that teach you few things about technology. When you create games, your knowledge about a wifi, mobile data, gps, different smart devices, apps grows. I have seen quite a good bunch of tech-remote people growing into seasoned event tech users.

Volume. While other activities take your full focus and resources, games can be created and run within a short notice time and little staff. So, activity with 800 people is within reach of a small event company.

Fabulous and time-saving possibilities to explain and demo the product to a client. With gamification tech you just open up a demo game (which is easily made personal) and help the client to decide whether this is something they would love to do.

A personal, learning focused content. Customizing activities that are run with analog methods are pain and take time. This makes it usually too pricey for the client to pick. With the gamification solution you can add a personalized content easily and delight the client at a reasonable cost.

Attendees` engagement. People love playing and even if they were not listening during the program, then during the game you can repeat the main messages. This means, you have a powerful back-up to engage people to meet the event goal.

Microlearning. Again, if longer texts are skipped then little chunks of content served during the game will stick to attendees. Playing always involves emotions as a player has to make a row of decisions during the game, and people will remember if something is acquired with emotions .

Proof. Many activities leave behind just photos and participant comments. In addition to that, a game leaves behind answers and scores on the leader board. If you wish, you can analyze these and even bring evidence to the client whether the goal of the event was met.

Experience over product and WOM potential. Human beings have constant desire of new experiences and they are eager to share them. Well constructed games provide the experience of a roller coaster with a spectrum of emotions the participants want to share.

Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below. Is an event company missing out when it doesn’t use games?